Over half of Round Lake Beach residents are under a precautionary boil order after a car crashed into a fire hydrant Friday evening, causing a 16-inch water main line to break and part of a street to flood.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 5:20 p.m. Friday to the area of North Cedar Lake Road and North Channel Drive in Round Lake Beach for a service call.
Firefighters arrived and found a car that had hit a fire hydrant on North Channel Drive just east of North Cedar Lake Road, causing it to shear off and water to flood part of North Channel Drive, according to fire department radio traffic.
The car involved – a Chevrolet Camaro – also crashed into a fence.
Round Lake Beach Deputy Police Chief Tim Schuster said the car swerved off the road and hit the fire hydrant in the 200 block of North Channel Drive.
“The force of the crash resulted in the fire hydrant to dislodge, causing a large break in the 16″ water main,” village officials said.
“That water main functions as one of the main feeder lines within the Village of Round Lake Beach,” officials added.
The immediate area experienced a rapid loss of water as a result of the incident.
Water flooded part of the street and towards at least two houses next to the sheared fire hydrant. The extent of water damage to the nearby homes is unclear.
The Round Lake Beach Public Works Department was notified of the break at 5:15 p.m. and sent crews to the scene.
Residents and businesses in the Round Lake Beach area reported on social media that they temporarily had no water pressure due to the incident.
Backup pumps were turned on, and auxiliary water was pumped directly to the affected area at 6:30 p.m., village officials said.
Public works crews isolated the water main break at 6:38 p.m., and system pressure returned to normal as of 7 p.m., village officials added.
“Due to the massive pressure loss, the village has issued a precautionary boil order to residents affected in the area,” officials said.
Residents in the orange-shaded area are under the precautionary boil order.
The purple-shaded area does not mean anything on the map and is not under the precautionary boil order.
Village officials added that residents in towns besides Round Lake Beach are not affected.
Residents under the precautionary boil order are recommended to boil water for three minutes before doing any of the following:
- Drinking, cooking and preparing food
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Mixing baby formula
- Making ice
- Brushing teeth
- Giving water to pets
- Treating open wounds
- Washing dishes by hand (dishwashers get hot enough to use)
“Water samples will be drawn and tested throughout the entire system to ensure proper water quality, however, the testing can take 24-48 hours to receive results,” village officials said.
“When the results are returned, the precautionary boil order will be lifted.”
Residents are asked to check the village’s website and Facebook page for updates.
“The village of Round Lake Beach apologizes for the inconvenience of this incident.”
Charges may be filed against the driver of the Chevrolet as the crash remains under investigation by the Round Lake Beach Police Department.